Vaughan wants England to shine

Captain Michael Vaughan is calling on England's World Cup squad to "do something special" in the Caribbean.Vaughan, who is confident that he will overcome a hamstring problem in time for the tournament, rates his men as "dark horses" following their unexpected success in the Commonwealth Bank Series in Australia last month.With reigning world champions Australia faltering in recent weeks, the 32-year-old Yorkshireman believes the World Cup is wide open, with no one team heading to the West Indies as outright favourites.And he believes it is time for England's cricketers to perform after registering four successive one-day international victories. He said: "Since 1992 we haven't performed in a World Cup. That is why this is a great opportunity and a really special moment."You don't get many times in your career to do something special. We did it in 2005 with the Ashes. Now this group of players really feel as if they have something to prove in the one-day game and that is what we are setting out to do."England take on Bermuda and Australia in warm-up matches in St Vincent ahead of their World Cup opener against New Zealand in St Lucia on March 16 - they will also meet Canada and Kenya in their remaining Group C fixtures.And Vaughan has high hopes for the tournament, adding: "Most teams are strong in areas and weak in others. Australia will be competitive and New Zealand will be very difficult to beat."I wouldn't like to say one team are the favourites. The World Cup is wide open for one of the top eight teams to go on and win it. From where we were six weeks ago, the tournament's dark horses are us."Vaughan believes Kevin Pietersen, who missed most of the one-day series in Australia with a cracked rib, and spinner Monty Panesar will be vital to England's hopes.He said: "It is great to have Kevin back. He does add a great deal to our batting in the middle period. He is our best one-day player and I am really looking forward to seeing him out in the Caribbean on what could be small grounds."And Monty has been a revelation in the last year in the England team - his work ethic, his enthusiasm and more importantly his skill levels are very, very high."If he bowls like he did in Australia and the wickets do spin a little he could be a real threat for us at the World Cup."© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

ITN | March 2, 2007

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